Farm gate



ug. l, 1939..

L. B EAR D FARM GATE Filed F'eb. 10, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 TIE-4 :inventor 3 gia/01A Wm 74 fwa/ZL M Gttorneg llg.. E., 1 L, HEARD RQ FARM GATE Filed Feb. l0, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 mventor gia/LOM MNM/MMM Patented Aug. 1, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application February 10, 1938, Serial No. 189,749

2 Claims.

My invention has reference to a farm gate, and has for its chief purpose to provide a strong, durable, and highly eiiicient structure of that type. It is of a ch-aracter to be rockingly mounted, so that by means of levers extending to the sides of the gate it can be tipped upwardly out of the way of traffic, or rocked backwardly into place again. It is of double construction, and self-bracing, so as to resist the force of strong winds when it is in an elevated position.

It is specially adapted for use in countries having winter climates and quantities of snow, and if snow covers the ground about the gate it is merely lifted upwardly out of it, without hindrance therefrom. This is a great advantage over the old style swing gate, which is frequently held from movement by the deep snow surrounding it, and which has to be cleaned away before the gate can be opened. In the present invention, when the gate is returned to position after being opened, it settles downwardly through the snow, effectively closing the passage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a balancing mechanism, by means of which the load of the gate while being operated will be greatly relieved, and the force of which is shiftable to different parts of the gate, as it is raised or lowered. The operation of this mechanism is entirely automatic. As the gate moves downwardly the weight thereof increases, so that it is returned positively to closed position. When'the gate is fully raised for the passage of a vehicle, there is no danger of its being carried back into the lane of traic by the wind, as frequently occurs with the swing type of gate.

Another purpose of the invention is the provision of novel apparatus for applying the force of the levers to the gate, to open or close the same. By this means successive movements of a lever will be effective to alternately open and close the gate, the operation of the lever giving an initial movement to the gate, which movement is followed up by the force of the counterbalancing devices, by which the movement is completed.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a latch mechanism, to connect the free end of the gate with a post or other fixture when it is in closed position, and prevent accidental movement thereof. The latch can also be used to hold the gate in place when elevated a little ways from the ground, to permit the passage beneath the same of smaller animals.

The invention is of simple construction and operation, and can be produced at a minimum amount of cost, due regard being had to the strength and durability of the structure.

The above named, and other features of the invention will more fully appear from the following speciiication, taken in connection with the 5 accompanying drawings, in which is portrayed a preferred form of the invention, and in which- Fig. 1 shows the invention in side elevation, with the gate closed.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the latch end of the gate.

Fig. 3 shows the gate lifting mechanism in enlarged fragmentary view.

Fig. 4 is an end view from the arch end of the structure, with the wire fabric omitted.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the invention, with the gate in closed position.

Fig. 6 is a side View of the gate in closed position, with one of the side panels removed.

The reference number l0 indicates a beam, or base member, which may be of concrete, and level with the surface of the ground. An arch il is rockingly connected with the base lil, by means of hinges l2, and connected with the side pieces of said arch are gate panels, formed of pieces i3, united at their free ends by a vertical piece ifi. Centrally of the gate are supports l5, and the sides of the panels thus formed may be covered with wire or metal screen, as indicated at it, to protect the same and increase the durability of the gate. The structure thus formed is of a J- formation, and each of the gate panels tends to support and brace the other, especially when the gate is in an elevated position. When in this position the narrow or pointed part of the gate is uppermost, and the gate is well prepared to meet and resist the force of the elements.

At each side of the gate is mounted a handlever l'l, by a pivotal connection with a post it, supported on the beam lli. In the end of the gate containing the arch ll are fixed wire or rod loops or frames I9 and 20, with which the short end of the lever is connected by means of chains 2l and 22, respectively. The construction of this apparatus is the same at each side of the gate, so that the description of on-e of these and its operation will answer for both. The long ends of the levers l1 are provided with cords 23, to facilitate the operation thereof, and by pulling down thereon the chain 2| and frame I9 are 50 drawn upwardly, causing the gate to rock on its hinges, and carrying it toward one side of the drive-way. The movement is completed in the manner hereinafter set forth, and when it is desired to close the gate again, this is done by 55 again operating one or other of the levers, actuating the other chain 22, and through its connection with the loop 20, starting the gate downwardly again.

The bar I9 is bent upwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, and the last link of the chain 2| has an initial movement to the center of the bar, before it begins to exert a pull on the gate. This pull gives the rocking movement to the gate before mentioned, and in the additional rocking movement the end of the chain has free movement along the bar. The same is true of the bar 20, which is bent in the direction of the small end of the gate, and on which the end of the ch-ain 22 is slidable a little ways before it begins to exert a pull. The gate, which is in the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, is tipped downwardly a little ways, and then settles back into place of its own weight. A post or other xture is provided at the free end of the gate, as shown at 24. This may be the end post in a line of fencing.

The gate is provided with a balancing apparatus, consisting of a bar 25, having a hinged connection with a post 25 as at 21. The outer end of said bar is connected by a chain 29 with a loop 3U of a rod 3|, which is slidable in a guide 32 on a cross-bar 33 supported between the pair of supports I5. The outer end of the rod 3l is connected by a chain 34 with the post I4. As the gate is elevated the bar 25 is also tipped upwardly by the weight 28 thereon, which may be in the form of a concrete block, bolted thereto. At the highest point the end of the bar 25 is near the free end of the gate, as in broken lines in Fig. l, the relative movement of such parts being allowed for by a sliding movement of the rod 3| in the guide 32. This not only permits a free action of the gate and bar with reference to each other, but the force of the weight is gradually shifted toward the end of the gate, farther away from the rocking point thereof, and with a greater leverage in the lifting operation. As the gate is lowered again this counterbalance force is gradually diminished, permitting the gate to settle easily into closed position.

The structure is also provided with a. locking device, for holding the gate in a closed position, consisting of a latch 35, the end of which engages with detents 36 in a channel in the face of the post 24, to hold the post I4 from upward movement. Engagement of the latch is enforced by a coiled spring 3l, and the latch is connected by a rod 38 with the last link of one of the chains 2|. 'I'he initial movement of such chain in the operation of lifting the gate will move the rod suiciently to release the latch, and permit the gate to be raised. In the downward movement of the gate the latch will automatically engage the detents. Under ordinary condi'- tions such engagement will be with the lowest detent, with the gate fully lowered, but if desred the gate can be elevated a little, leaving a space at the bottom, and the latch engaged with the next higher detent.

The manner of operating the gate will be ob- Vious. Upon approaching the gate from one side or the other the hand lever on that side of the gate is operated in a customary manner, causing the gate to be rst unlocked, and then tipped upwardly out of the way. After passing through, the other lever is operated, closing the gate again.

'I'he gate itself can be made of pieces of common timber, such as two-by-fours, and is of a strong and durable construction, especially when provided with the Wire netting reinforcement. The satisfactory operation of the gate depends chiefly on a simple rocking movement, and there is Very little about the mechanism to get out of order.

Changes can be made in the construction of various parts of the device, and in the manner of operation thereof, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as set forth and claimed herein.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure, is:

l. A farm gate comprising a pair of panels united in V-form, provided with hinge supports at their wider end, and capable of being rocked into open and closed positions, hand-levers pivotally supported at opposite `sides of the gate,

connections between said hand-levers and the rocking end of the gate, including pairs of bars on the gate and flexible elements between said bars and the lever, operating to alternately raise and lower the gate, and a balancing apparatus supported between the panels of the gate, and operatively connected with said gate with a shiftable application of force.

2. A farm gate provided with hinge supports at its rear end, capable of being rocked from a horizontal to a vertical position and the reverse, hand-levers pivotally supported at opposite sides of the gate, connections between said hand-levers and the rocking end of the gate, including pairs of rods on opposite sides of the gate and chains attached to the levers having a slidable engagement with said rods, a balancing mechanism supported convenient to the gate, a bar slidable longitudinally of the gate, and Iiexible connections between said bar and said gate, and between said bar and said balancing apparatus, resulting in a shifting of the force of said mechanism outwardly as the gate is lifted.

LEWIS BEARD. 

